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Lenten Reflections: Part V – Mary Jane Vigil, OSB continues….

Chapter 49 of the Holy Rule begins with the singular. We are told that each person is to offer something extra to God beyond what is imposed and each one is to deny herself something and reveal what is to be done to the Abbot and in our case the Prioress. At Sunday evening Vespers of the first week of Lent each sister turns in a written resolution to the Prioress. Those resolutions are then used to create the Easter fire at the Vigil service. Every year before Lent we gather as a campus community and discuss what we can do as a total group in the way of fasting, almsgiving and prayer. On reflecting on the traditional Lenten practices I have become mindful of the wisdom of the church’s emphasis on these practices. There is a line in the introduction to the small booklet Daily Reflections for Lent that says, “by paring back, space is created for the invasion of grace. Wherever God finds emptiness and hospitality divine grace will flood our souls. Asceticism’s main goal is not self-denial but opening our self to God’s will. Thus ‘less rather than more’ has spiritual significance.” Benedict tells us that these are ways in which we can “Look forward to Holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing.” Since Vatican II the church tells us that these practices are a way of leading us to know our need to be filled with God’s Spirit.

If I were to offer a resolution to God, beyond what was expected, what would it be?

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We, the Sisters of Benet Hill Monastery, journeying together, are called to seek God in daily celebration of life. Recognizing our giftedness, we listen and respond through creative prayer and life-giving service.

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Benedictine Prayer for Peace

St. Benedict, you were a man of peace. You walked the path of peace your whole life long and led all who came to you into the ways of peace. Help us, St. Benedict, to achieve peace: peace in our hearts, peace in our homes,peace in our sorely troubled world.
Through your powerful intercession with God help us to be peace-makers. Aid us to work for peace,to take the first step in ending bitterness, to be the first to hold out our hands in friendship and forgiveness.
Beg God to let peace permeate our lives so that they may be lived in grace and love. At the end of our lives obtain for us theReward of the peacemakers, the eternal blessed vision of God in heaven.
Amen.